Mold box wedging assembly

Abstract

In presses such as hydraulic presses used for forming tiles or bricks from ceramic or other materials, a mold box is mounted in alignment with the upper and lower dies. To hold the mold box without keying it to the mold case, a wedging assembly comprises an outer wedge releasably fixed to a wall of the opening and having a vertically angled surface facing inwardly. Next to it is an inner wedge having a vertically angled surface which is brought into contact with the angled surface of the outer wedge. Adjustable securing means such as vertical bolts pass through a vertical passageway in the inner wedge and are screwed into an aligned, threaded passageway in the outer wedge for moving the inner wedge vertically until its translation laterally secures the key-less mold box fast by friction alone against downward thrusts of the upper die.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A wedging assembly for demountably fixing a mold box or the like within an opening in a surrounding casing member, comprising: (a) an outer wedge adapted to be fixed to one wall of said opening, said outer wedge having a vertically angled surface facing inwardly, and   (b) an inner wedge disposed with a vertically angled outward surface in contact with said angled surface of said outer wedge, said inner wedge being arranged for adjustment to a predetermined vertical position, said inner and outer wedges each having at least one substantially vertical passageway capable of at least partial alignment, and   (c) adjustable securing means passing through said vertical passageway in said inner wedge and engaging said vertical passageway of said outer wedge for limiting movement of said inner wedge downward beyond a predetermined point and for moving said inner wedge vertically.   
     
     
       2. The wedging assembly according to claim 1 wherein said outer wedge has a first plurality of transverse apertures formed therein, said first apertures being aligned with a corresponding second plurality of apertures in said casing member which are threaded, wherein first horizontal bolts are passed through said first plurality of apertures to engage the corresponding second plurality of apertures in said casing, wherein said inner wedge and said outer wedge have respective third and fourth pluralities of aligned transverse apertures formed therein, and wherein second horizontal bolts are passed through said third plurality of apertures and are screwed into the corresponding fourth plurality of apertures which are threaded. 
     
     
       3. The wedging assembly according to claim 2 with the addition of a vertical, essentially planar plate mounted adjacent to and inwardly of said inner wedge and having a fifth plurality of transverse apertures formed therein aligned with said third plurality of apertures in said inner wedge, said second plurality of horizontal bolts respectively passing through said fifth and third pluralities of apertures and being screwed into said fourth plurality of apertures. 
     
     
       4. The wedging assembly according to claim 2 wherein said adjustable securing means includes a plurality of vertical bolts which pass through said substantially vertical passageways in said inner and outer wedges and wherein said surrounding casing includes vertical apertures formed therein coaxial with and adjacent to said substantially vertical passageways in said outer wedge through which the upper ends of said bolts may pass. 
     
     
       5. The wedging assembly according to claim 2 wherein said third transverse apertures are elongated in a vertical direction to permit passage of said second horizontal bolts therethrough despite adjustments of said inner wedge within predetermined limits in a vertical direction. 
     
     
       6. The wedging assembly according to claim 3 wherein said fifth plurality of transverse apertures formed in said plate are counterbored to enable the heads of said second plurality of horizontal bolts to be totally outwardly of the inner surface of said plate. 
     
     
       7. The wedging assembly according to claim 3 wherein said plate has an upper, outer shoulder and said casing has an upper projecting ledge which engages said shoulder and limits the uppermost position of said plate, the lower surface of said projection being arranged for sliding contact with said shoulder. 
     
     
       8. The wedging assembly according to claim 1 wherein the contacting angled surfaces of said inner outer wedges are provided with indentations to which lubricating means are to be supplied thereby reducing friction between said surfaces when said adjustable securing means moves said inner wedge vertically. 
     
     
       9. The wedging assembly according to claim 8 wherein said indentations comprise a plurality of spaced and interconnected groove-like channels formed in said outer wedge. 
     
     
       10. The wedging assembly according to claim 8 wherein said inner wedge is provided with substantially vertical passageways which terminate in openings on the angled surface of said inner wedge. 
     
     
       11. The wedging assembly according to claim 1 wherein the vertical passageways in said outer wedge are at least partially threaded and wherein said adjustable securing means comprise a plurality of bolts which are screwed into said partially threaded passageways. 
     
     
       12. The wedging assembly according to claim 1 wherein said outer wedge is provided with a horizontal channel, wherein the portion of said casing opposite said channel is also provided with a horizontal channel facing said first-named channel, and wherein key means are provided for disposition within the key-way formed by said facing channels. 
     
     
       13. The wedging assembly according to claim 1 with the addition of retaining means disposed below both of said wedges and having an outer portion thereof adapted to be fixed to said casing and wherein said adjustable securing means comprise a plurality of vertical bolts which pass through said retaining means and are screwed into said vertical passageway in said outer wedge, adjustment of said bolts providing adjustment of the vertical position of said retaining means and thereby adjustment of the vertical position of said inner wedge. 
     
     
       14. A wedging assembly for demountably fixing a mold box or the like within an opening in a surrounding casing member, comprising: (a) an outer wedge adapted to be fixed to one wall of said opening, said outer wedge having a vertically angled surface facing inwardly,   (b) an inner wedge disposed with a vertically angled outward surface in contact with said angled surface of said outer wedge, said inner wedge having a horizontal aperture formed therein,   (c) horizontal securing means which is dimensioned and arranged to pass through said aperture with ample clearance and which has one end fixed to said outer wedge, and   (d) vertically adjustable securing means passing through both of said wedges for imparting vertical movement to said inner wedge thereby causing the latter to be moved laterally inward or outward.